Al's Devotional

As we come into unprecedented times in our national history, it is important to come to a place where we understand the nature of true government, which is of service.  When those in government cease to serve, but would rather be served, then they are no longer rulers, but despots. As J.P.G. Pidge stated: Israel's secession "was from the Lord." From terrible, relentless, persistent tyranny, after due but vain remonstrance, subjects have a Divine right to free themselves by revolution. "The powers that be are ordained of God," but no particular form of polity is so. Rulers exist for subjects, not subjects for rulers. The government of a nation at any time presumably deserves respect and support; but it may forfeit all claim to both by ceasing to fulfil its function as a blessing to the people. He further went on to write about the office of ruler as servant: How perfectly did the course of our Divine Lord and Savior illustrate this! He came to win the world. How ...

This is an excellent message for today, concerning the causes of the decline of the churches in America.  It is not a criticism, but it is a warning that we are subject to the same snares, and it is best that we be wary of such.  I believe that the true church of God is going to be cleansed, and that we may face hardships, but in the end we will stand pure before the Lord. ~Al Solomon Turns from the Lord But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, ...

This is a gem from The Gospel Message, written by a missionary group from 1915. ~Al And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 1Ki 15:34    Jeroboam is a striking illustration of the fact that the natural man can neither fear God, trust God, nor love God. His spirit had never felt that awe and reverence toward God that checks sin and prompts to obedience.   His sin was aggravated and presumptuous, because deliberate and against the light. God had told him that He would wrest from Solomon ten tribes, because of his idolatry, and give them to him; He told him He would make him a sure house if he would walk in the ways of David . Yet Jeroboam deliberately turned his whole kingdom to idolatry as a matter of policy. It was a persistent sin. Twice God warned him of the swift ruin he was bringing to himself and all his people. The first warning was attested by miracles: his han...

Hello All, I was reading Psalm 6 this morning, which is a Psalm worth reading as it is a reckoning of sin.  I believe as we come closer to our God, we become more aware of how sinful we really are, and it would be unbearable if not for the Grace, unmerited favor, that God shows toward us. ~Al P SALM 6   To the Chief Musician, for eight-stringed instruments. A Psalm of David . O Jehovah, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor chasten me in the heat of Your fury.  Have mercy on me, O Jehovah, for I am weak; O Jehovah, heal me, for my bones are troubled.  My soul also is exceedingly troubled; but You, O Jehovah, how long?  Return, O Jehovah, return; deliver my soul; save me for Your mercy's sake.  For in death there is no memory of You; in the grave who shall give You thanks?  I am weary in my groaning; all the night I make my bed swim; I melt my couch with my tears.  My eye is dim because of grief; it wastes away ...

Beloved, I have been thinking of late, what is man (and woman)? What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?  Job 7:17    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?   Psa 8:4  LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!  Psa 144:3  When I think that all the drama of Heaven and earth center around the Bride, I cannot help but wonder.  Some would think of this with pride, but that is not the case.  Our Champion has looked upon our frailty and rescued us, and is restoring us to that beauty that He created us for before the world ever came into existence. Like the song says, "Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness" These two essays put man in perspective, lest he think of himself above himself. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for where...

Beloved, what a blessing these sermons have been.  Take some time and read this, you won't be disappointed. ~Al SOME THINGS WHICH GOD HATH JOINED.                     " What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder ." M ATT . 19:6.   The primary reference of these familiar words is to the institution of marriage, every breach of which Jesus here condemns as a violation of the divine order. asunder what God has joined is, in this case, to loosen the basis on which society rests, and to involve not only the family, but the state itself, in confusion and ultimate ruin. But the primary is not necessarily the only application of the words. They remind us that it is an act of folly and presumption on our part to separate whatsoever the will and wisdom of God have joined together. For such connections are not arbitrary—dependent, that is, upon the divine will alone—but rest upon some inward and essential ne...

Something to think about this Sunday. Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God . Deu 32:3    I. A caution . In as much as Moses had said, " Ascribe ye greatness unto our God ," he intended to hint to us that we ought to ascribe greatness to none else. 1. If I worship a created being, if I seek the intercession of any save the one Person who is ordained to be the Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, I do in that degree derogate from the greatness of God. 2. Though we do not bow down and worship images, yet, I am sorry to say, there is scarce a congregation that is free from that error of ascribing greatness to their minister. If souls are converted, how very prone we are to think there is something marvelous in the man. We are but your servants for Christ's sake. 3. Pay deference unto authorities as ye should do; but if in aught they swerve, remember your knee must bow to God, and to God alone...